Portable seam welder



Dec. 3l, 1940.

c. DE GANAHL PORTABLE SEAM WELDER Filed Jan. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O T N E V N Nw. Q.

Dec. 3l, 1940. Q DE GANAHL 2,227,249

PORTABLE SEM WELDER Filed Jan. 5, 1959 3 ShQSiS--Shet 2 ATTORNEY Dec. C. DE GANAHL 'PORTABLE sEAM wELDER Filed Jan. 5, 1959 s sheessheet s @Mik/4 o RNEY UNITI-:o j'STATF-S Vpllififizlvr.v 'or-FICE Y somma sum Wannen I cari d Guam, mism, ra.' animer, by meme l to Reconstruction Finance 'Cor-` poration and particularly to welding devices for applying a plurality of space d or overlapping spot welds to relatively stationary work. A Spot welding devices of the p ast have generally been rather large and heavy devices through.

which the work was fed. and in the known eiiorts toward portability have been handicapped by the limited range of relative motion between the work l0 and Welder, and by: complications arising from lthe requirements as to'coolin'g of the electrodes,

'suitably timing the welding surges, and providing suitable means to insure p etermined relative motion between the-welder an work;

l5. It is among the objects of. this invention; to

provide improvements in the art of portablewelding devices;. to provide. a portable seam welder using welding roller electrodes with the rollers vgeared'for synchronousactuation: to provide a portable w'elder having driven roller electrodes in which the axisot a driven member `is a hinge .axis about which the roller electrodes maybe relatively adjusted'to admit and withdraw the Work; to.provide a portable Iwelder in which a pair of driven electrodes are water cooled in series; to provide a'portable welder in which a pair' of roller electrodes are coupled about a pivot perof the pivot for forcingthe'electrodes together;

to provide a portable seam welder comprising a pair of roller electrodes which are water cooled in series but which are electrically insulated to prevent short circuiting of the welding current; to provide in a portable welder a pair of rotatable roller electrodes 'insulatedly pivoted togetherl on:v

5.a transverse axis with 'insulating-gear means simultaneously driving said roller` electrodes `and insulating-onefrom the other and many other objects and advantages will become more apparent asthe description proceeds. In the accompanying drawings forming part of this description,

' Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal'section partially in elevation` of a preferred form of the portable leamwelder.

' Application January 5. i939, semi No. 249,405 mm. .www- 4)v This invention relates to portable seam welders driven on an axis 'coincident with said pivot for Fig. 2 represents a bottomor reilected plan of Y the welder oflllg. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 represents an end elevation thereof.l

Fig'. 5 represents a transverse vertical section 5 l online S-ofFig. 1.

6 represents a fragmentary section on line 3--6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 represents a diagram of the Welder .and

work andthe operating and control system there- 10 .-In the illustrative form of the device illustrated in Fig. l, a frame-work or supporting member or arm Ill has a longitudinal bore Il leading to an enlarged recess I2`at one end and to a face 15. I end I3 at the other. The frame-work lll-at the rear end .has spaceed side walls M and ijinedby the web surfaceJB andterminating tow'al. the roller' end in the parallel spaced ears I1 and Il having the respective aligned apertures 20 and '20 2l, respectively containing the insulating bushings 22 and' 23 and extending .asymmetrically from the framework i0 as shown in Fig. 5. This comprises one half lof the supporting frame-work,

which, with a -complemental frame element 24, 26 i' substantially identical to, .but reversed in its relation-to the rst mentioned described'framework I0. forms the complete welding assembly.

The second frame-work 24, having the side members and webs described relative to member I0, 30 v has the asymmetrically disposed laterally pro- Jecting lu'gs or ears 25 and 26, each provided with the insulating bushings respectively 21 and 28,

'in aligned Vapertures 30 `and 3l. The ears of frame 2l are arranged in staggered overlapping 35 relation `t0 the ears' l1 and I3 of frame I0 so that the apertures'in all four ears are in alignment with an enlarged concentric median space 32 between the adjacent oppositely extending middle ears. The space 32 is provided to receive o Athe insulating worm gear 33 rotatable between contiguous earsvv i8 and 25 and keyed to a shaft 3l. one endof which extends beyond one side ear 2i to anchored engagement, as by acotter pin 35 or the like, bearing upon a plate 36 insulated from metallic ear 26 byran insulating washer 3 1. Shaft 34f carries the insulatingsleeves, respectively 38 and 40, on each side of gear 33, within which it is Journaled, and on its driven end has a flange or shoulder 4l engaging 50 an'insulating washer 42 adjacent to the ear i1.

Additional insulating'washers zu and sa eiectrically insulate adjacent ears from each other.

The shaft 34, externally of the flange 4l, carries the driven worm pinion 43, keyed to the shaft and continuously in mesh withA the longitudinally extending worm gear 44, journaled insulatedly in bearings 45 and 4t, mounted on the side wall i of frame member Il. The worm 5 gear 44 is driven by flexible shaft l41 of any desired length leading to a power source (housed in the control assembly I9, Fig. '1) remote from the portable Welder, so as to enable manual manipulations of the welder while maintaining torque upon shaft 41 and worm gear 44. It is to be understood that frames or arms l0 and 24 are'both pivotally connected together upon an axis substantially concentric with that of the drive shaft 34 but in mutually insulated electrical relation to each other. 1

The bore II in frame l0 contains a bushing 50, in which the roller electrode 5I is journaled for rotation. The electrode may be formed in v any desired manner but preferably is internally water cooled and comprises a hollow tubular vshank 52 and the hollow or recessed end 53, with the recess being in communication with the interior of the shank 52. The electrode has a welding periphery 54. The hollow shank extends through the front face I3 of the frame Il, rotatably in bushing 50, across the space I2 and into the cast block 55. The latter contains the packing gland 56 and the adjustable nut therefore, 51, and has the internal bores 5B and 60 for the water supply, communicating through channel 6l, and also contains the bore 62 for the water exhaust communicating, through cross bore 63, with the interior oi the rotatable hollow shank 52 as it rotates. The central bore 60, which is suitably partially blocked or plugged, contains the threaded terminal flange 64 of the water supply, carrying reduced tube 65 disposed within the shank 52 and leading to a spray head in the recess 53, preferably comprised of a disc terminal 66 and the arcuate slot 61 adjacent i thereto. The water intake aperture 58 commuicates with a suitable tube 68 leading to the water supply passing to the -welder through the hollow flexible electrical and water conductor 10 through `the internally ported terminal block 1I. The water supply preferably emanates from the timer and control assembly I9.

The roller electrode 5| is in constant mesh with the insulating worm 33, through a worm pinion gear 12 keyed or splined to the tubular shaft 52. Note that the driveis constant regardless of the relative pivoted relationship of the components or arms of the Welder about the axis of shaft 34.

The other portion of the frame, the complemental support element 24, carries a complemental roller electrode 13 driven by worm pinion gear 14, also in mesh with the insulating worm gear 33, and similar in all respects to the rolly ing electrode just described. The cooling system however is, preferably in series with that just described. To this Aend a flexible conduit `15 leads from the exhaust bore of roller electrode '51, into the intake port of the water supply for 55 the roller electrode 13. The exhaust from roller electrode 13 leads by conduit 19 into the internally ported terminal box 15 and thence into the tubular flexible electrical and water connector 16 to return to the timer and control 70 assembly 89.

It will be understood that the respective. hollow electrical conductors or connectors 10 and 16 lead to a suitabley welding transformer and timing device 89 of any conventional type, by

g 'I5 which a variably timed succession of welding impulses enter the welder through connector 1l, terminalb0x1l andthrcughthamellto the roller electrode 54. and, if the latter has been moved into welding engagement with the work 11, they fuse or weld the work 11, and pass 5 through cooperating complemental roller electrode 1l, and through frame 24, terminal box 15' and connector 16 back to the transformer. The timerl transformer and control assembly It preferably houses a motor (not shown) to drive l0 the flexible shaft 41 with variable speeds and contains valves and the like for water and air supplies.

On the opposite side of the pivot 34 from the peripherally engageable welding rollers is the ten- 15 sion spring 1l tending to urge the welding rollers apart about the fulcrum 34, so as to eiiect quick release of the work and to maintain the jaws (formed by the two welding rollers) normallyV open. lOn the same side and adjacent to 20 the spring preferably further from the pivot axis 34 than the juxtaposed rollers, so as to ex'ert great power, is the power cylinder Il, connected to frame Il through any suitable support such as the transverse pivot member Il, and having 25 the intake port 82 and air conduit Il leading therefrom. A piston 84 slidable in the cylinder 80 is pivoted to the frame 24 at point l5, and the ,wile is so arranged that air pressure from as iiitable source (not shown) but illustratively 30 disposed in the power housing It passing through a suitable vcontrol mounted on the portable welder (not shown) and arranged under the control of the operator, regulates the entry and exhaust of compressed air or other fluid into 35 and out of the cylinder above rthe piston, to force the spring-held ends of the frame apart and to force the roller peripheries together about the axis l4to engage work 11 with suitable welding pressure. 4U It will be understood that the water supply will be suitably led into and conducted away from the respective connectors 1l and 1l at points remote from the welder (and preferably through the timer controller) in order to re- 4r duce the number of flexible connectors leading from the Welder.- It will be understood of course that independent leads for the water supply may be provided, independent of the electrical conneCtOTS. 50

The advantages of the invention, the fact that it can be caused to firmly engage the work with a'rolling grip or clamp action, and that the work andwelder willbe relativelydriven through torque on the concentric insulating worm gear drlv- 55 ing both electrodes, with a positive movement, while the welding impulses may be provided in either overlapping or spaced relation as desired will be apparent. It will beirecognized that it may not be always necessary or desirable to drive 60 both roller electrodes and one may be independently journaled, to serve as an idler, if for any. reason this should be sought.

Obviously many other changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and such changes are to be construed as within the scope of the invention, except as the appended claims may' be otherwise expressly limited.

I claim as my invention:

l. A portable welder comprising a pair of arms, means electrically insulating the arms, a hollow roller electrode mounted on a hollow spindle journailed in each arm, means connecting the arms pivotally between the ends of the respective hollow spindles with the periphery or boni mixers in a substantially common plane 'parallel to the pivotal axis when in juxtaposition so that work passes' through'the juxtaposed rollers substantially parallel to the pivotal axis, and means conducting cooling fluid to the interiorof each elecf trode. v

2. A portable welder comprising `a supporting arm, 'a roller electrode journalled in the arm, a `second arm, a second roller Aelectrode journalled in the second arm, means pivoting the arms tolgether in electrically insulated relation, a worm gear concentric with the pivot of the farms, a vworm pinion gear keyed to one of thes-rollers in meshvwith the worm gear, and means for driving the worm gear.

3. A portable welder comprisinga frame, a second frame pivoted thereto, a hollow roller electrode mounted on ahollow spindle journalled axis of said pivot, a second hollow roller electrode mounted on a hollow spindle journalledv longitudinally of the second frame perpendicular to th axis of said pivot, means urging the frames together about the pivot, gears engagingeach hollow spindle, a driven member in mesh with each of said gears in two diderent positions of adjust' ment of said Aframes about said pivot,power means for urgingthe' frames apart about the, pivot to force the rollers toward each other, me'ans conducting cooling iluid to one hollow spindle, means i'orconducting cooling fluid away from the said hollow spindle and means conducting fluid from one spindle to the other.

4. A portable weldercomprising a hollow roller electrode, a second hollow roller electrode, means for Ajournalling the rollers i'or rotation, means pivoting the electrodes together, means forcing the rollers toward each other about said pivot, means establishing a circuit of cooling water inseries through the rollers. means concentric with the said pivot for imparting torque to both electrodes in various adjusted relations or saidpivot. e

5. A portable welding device comprising a- 45 frame having pivoting apertured ears close to one end, a roller electrode'joui-nailed,longitudi-A naily of the frame in said end transversely of the line of the apertures in said ears, a complemental frame having complementall apertured ears close to one end, a complemental roller electrode longitudinally iournalled in said last men- 'so trode, means fordriving the worm gear, and

power means on the other side ot said pivot iurlongitudinally in the irame perpendicular to the r spective ears, the rollers being in closeV motion on an axis substantially perpendicular.

to a plane containing the axes of bth rollers, means insulating 1the electrodes apart, a worm gear Journalled concentrically of the pivot for thefr'ames, pinion gears in constant mesh with said worm and respectively in. driving relation to the respective roller electrodes, at least one of 'the said gears being formed ot insulating material to assist in insulating the electrodes apart, and means for driving said worm gear.

'1. A portable welder comprising a supporting frame, a roller electrode having an axisand 'journalled in the frame, a complementalrrame, a

complemental roller electrode having an axis and iourntlledy in the complemental frame, means pivoting the frames together for relative pivotal motion on an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane containing'the axes of both rollers,.

means insulating the electrodesapart, worm pinion gears keyed to each roller, a worm gear in mesh with the piniongears andrconcentric with said pivot, and means i'ordriving said worm gear. 8. A portable welder comprising a supporting frame, a roller electrode having an axis and journailed in the frame. a complemental frame, a complemental roller electrode having an axis and journalled in the complemental frame, means pivoting the frames together for relative pivotal motion on an axis' substantially perpendicular to a plane containing vthe axes of both rollers, means insulating the electrodes apart, means conducting ai welding current to the respective electrodes,

a worm gear of insulating material Journalled concentrlcally of the pivot i'or the frames, metallic pinion gears in constant mesh with and insulated apart by the worm gear-and keyed respectively to the respective roller electrodes, and

means for driving said worin gear.

9. A portable welder comprising a supporting lfratrie, a roller electrode havingan axis and journalled in the trame, a complemental frame, a complemental roller electrode having an axis and iournalled in the complemental frame, means pivoting the frame and complemental trame to'' gether about an 'axis substantially perpendicular to a plane containing the axes ot the roller electrodes comprising a drive shaft, means insulating the frame and complemental frame from the shaft, a gear on the shaft insulated from the frames, and pinion gears keyed to the respective rollers and in, mesh with the nrst mentionedl gear to drive said rollers'.

` CARL nl GANAHL. 

